Children 'suffering more mental health problems'

26/02/2007

A mental health helpline received calls from over 6,000 children and youths last year, it has emerged.

Young people rang Childline for help with problems including depression, eating disorders, bullying and sexual abuse, while one in six of the total calls received were from girls who were considering suicide.

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The charity cited separate research which has found rates of depression and anxiety among UK adolescents has risen by 70 per cent over the past quarter of a century.

Assistant director of ChildLine Joelle Leader said: "When young people talk about suicide they are obviously in deep despair.

"The number of children who rang to talk about mental health issues last year could have filled 250 classrooms, so it's a big problem."

She added that there are currently "not enough" mental health services for young people and the government should give the problem "urgent attention".

Childline provides a 24-hour helpline for children and is staffed by almost 1,400 volunteers.

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